(Toronto) What do you do when the political party you’ve admired since childhood crosses a red line and you can’t follow it anymore? Former conservative congressman Adam Kinzinger explains his choice in The Last Republicana new documentary that traces his journey.
The film, directed by Steve Pink, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), traces the right-wing politician’s journey from war hero and Republican Party darling to anti-Trump.
“Here’s a guy from my home state (Illinois) who I deeply opposed politically, but who sacrificed his career, his friends and even family members because of his criticism of Donald Trump,” the director explained by email to AFP.
For Adam Kinzinger, the red line was crossed on January 6, 2021, the day supporters of the former Republican president stormed the Capitol, the seat of Congress, to protest what they considered an election stolen by Joe Biden.
“At that point, I felt very isolated,” he says in the film.
He voted to impeach Donald Trump – one of only ten Republicans to do so – and served on the House committee led by members of the opposing Democratic Party on the events of January 6.
Mr. Kinzinger, now 46, offers a harsh assessment of a political party he once revered: “It’s not me who’s changed. It’s the Republican Party that’s changed,” he insists.
At last month’s Democratic convention, he announced his endorsement of Kamala Harris in the November 5 presidential election.
“Donald Trump has snuffed out the soul of the Republican Party,” he said to cheers in Chicago. Pink hopes his film will help people understand “the importance of cultivating relationships with those who have fundamentally different views than you.”